Wi-Fi Alliance Certifies 10,000th Device

Worldwide demand for interoperable, security-protected Wi-Fi products has grown since the program’s introduction in March 2000. While it took eight years to reach the 5,000-certification milestone, more than 2,000 certifications were given in 2010 alone.

ABI Research has reported that annual Wi-Fi shipments grew to 761 million products in 2010 and that the number will reach one billion by the end of 2011. Wi-Fi Alliance certifications grew 62 percent in 2010, the largest year-over-year growth in the history of the program.

The fastest-growing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED product categories were mobile phones and consumer electronics – such as TVs, tablets and gaming devices – which together account for more than half of all certifications. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing is performed at a worldwide network of 14 independent Authorized Test Laboratories located in China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan and the United States.